Re: Buying Car Spares

"Caecilius" <nosuch@spamless.invalid> wrote in message
news:akd324dhq5kp9ab75m63ni74k7v37mc4lp@4ax.com...
>A bit OT for this group I know, but as you're such a helpful bunch I
> thought I'd ask anyway...
>
> I've not bought car spare parts other than consumables for about
> twenty years now, but I recently bought a small car for my niece at
> auction, and am now looking for the various bits and peices to get it
> into good running condition.
>
> I assumed that it would be simple to get car spares on the Internet,
> but every place that my searches have led me want to know the full
> details of the car (most ask for a reg number), and then want me to
> submit a request for a quote.  Why can't they have a simple stock list
> complete with pricing like every other business?  It just seems fishy
> to me.
>
> Where are all the online unipart stockists and online breakers that I
> expected to see?  Is this one area that the Internet hasn't reached
> yet?
>
> Any pointers to the best place to go for car spares these days?
> Halfords seems to be mostly taken over with leisure and cycles; the
> old racks of parts that I remember from the 1980's seem to have
> dissapeared from my local branch.  Are there still Unipart stores like
> I remember?  I can't see any around now.
>
> It's not gone back to the bad old days of the original "arm and a leg"
> parts or a trip down the scrap yard has it?
>
> Caecilius

There are some very good car maintaining fora out there - some of which are
used by the pro's to exchange technical info not always found in repair
manuals.  Thankfully, I have not had to use one for a while (touch wood),
though previously I have even had people help with photos of the correct
page from a manual (last time was when I could not work out how to get at
the in-tank petrol pump of my friend's Micra: someone sent a pic.  Also very
helpful with how to reprogramme key fobs when they stop working).  Right
this minute I'm on a laptop and it does not have my favourites on, but I'll
try to remember to post a link when back on main m/c.

As for parts: there are numerous motor factors around: one of the commonest
being Motaquip.
Halfords is very expensive and as you say, mostly for push bikes.
Breakers: not so many around these days thanks to the cost of land that
might be sold for housing; increasing complexity of cars reducing their 'diy
ability'; and various pesky laws...
Best place for bulbs: Wilkinsons; or look out for little handy boxed sets
they have in Lidel for less than the cost of 1 bulb in Halfords.

You should have no trouble finding the bits you want though.

Good luck,

S
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